and premature death; and that there is no case in which it is indispensable, even as a medicine, and in which there may not be an adequate substitute.

Resolved, As the sense of this meeting, that the liberties and welfare of the nation are intimately and indissolubly connected with the morals and virtue of the people. And that, in the enactment of laws for the common benefit, it is equally the duty of the Legislative body to guard and preserve the public morals from corruption, as to advance the pecuniary interest, or to maintain the civil rights and freedom of the community.

The following resolution was to have been presented by the Hon. H. A. S. Dearborn, member of Congress from Massachusetts, but he was prevented by sickness from attending the meeting.

Resolved, That the abolition of the use of ardent spirit throughout the army, has been highly salutary; and that its abolition throughout the navy, while it would strengthen the arm of national defence, would elevate the character and increase the respectability and happiness of that interesting and important class of our citizens.

Resolved, That the adoption of the principle of abstinence from the use of ardent spirit, by superintendents of public works, proprietors of rail roads, steamboats, stages, &c. with regard to all in their employment, would increase the value of their services, as well as the comfort and safety of the community.

Resolved, That the use of ardent spirits and the unrestrained traffic in them, directly lead to the introduction amongst us, of crimes and vice in various forms, and to the overthrow of that purity and virtue of the people upon which depend the permanence of our free institutions, and, therefore, ought to be discouraged and resisted by every friend of civil and religious liberty throughout the world.

Resolved, That as a means of universal success, the friends of Temperance are bound to redouble their efforts by the agency of the press, and by all other practical means to enlighten the understandings of their fellow men, and awaken their attention to this great and important cause.

Resolved, That it be earnestly recommended to all who adopt the principles of the Temperance reformation, or who wish to promote it, to add the influence of their names and examples as members of Temperance Societies, and in all proper ways to promote the formation of such societies, until they shall become universal.

Resolved, That the Temperance reformation is fundamental in ts influence, upon all the great enterprizes, which have for their object the intellectual elevation, the moral purity, the social happiness, and the immortal prospects of mankind.

The Hon. Felix Grundy, United States Senator from Tennessee, then rose and said, that he had been highly gratified, and even

delighted with the meeting. But, said Mr. G. let us not stop here. Let the facts and arguments which have here been presented, go out from this place over the land. Let them be printed and circulated universally. Let it be seen by the whole American people, that men in high places, men whom the people have elevated to represent them in the Congress of the United States, are the friends, the patrons, and the active, zealous, and persevering promoters of the cause of Temperance. Let them see that this blessed cause has taken possession, even of the Capitol, and that it will hold possession; and from this elevated spot, this strong hold of liberty, will extend itself over the whole country. He then expressed his readiness to aid in publishing the addresses which had been delivered, and in their circulation through the land.

On

In the able and powerful addresses which accompanied the above resolutions, the duty and utility of entire abstinence from the use of ardent spirit, and from the traffic in it, were strongly illustrated; and also the benefits, which should this course be adopted, would result to our country and the world. The addresses have since been published in an octavo pamphlet of forty-eight pages, and in other forms; and have been circulated extensively through the country. They have awakened new interest and brought many new and powerful auxiliaries to the Temperance cause. the 26th day of February, a meeting of members of Congress was holden in the Senate Chamber for the purpose of forming a Congressional Temperance Society. The Hon. William Wilkins, United States Senator from Pennsylvania, was called to the chair, and the Hon. Walter Lowrie, Secretary of the Senate of the United States, was appointed Secretary of the meeting. The meeting was opened with prayer by the Rev. John Proudfit of Pennsylvania. After discussion and deliberation, a Society was formed on the bases of entire abstinence from the use of ardent spirit, and from the traffic in it, called, THE AMERICAN CONGRESSIONAL TEMPERANCE SOCIETY. Members of Congress, and all who have been members of Congress, officers of the United States Government, civil and military, and heads of departments, who practically adopt the great principles of the Society, by signing the Constitution, or addressing a letter to the Secretary expressive of their wish to do so, may become members of the Society. The Society is to have an annual meeting during the sessions of Congress, and the Executive Committee are, from time to time, to take such measures as will render the Society most extensively useful to the country.*

At this meeting, and also at the previous meeting in the Representative's Hall, the high responsibilities resting on members of Congress

* Appendix D.

and upon all men in public office was exhibited in strong and glowing colours; and also their duty to set an example of moral purity, as well as integrity; an example which the people may safely follow, and which will make rulers what alone they were designed to be, ministers of God for good to the people. And the Committee cannot but expect from this high and patriotic example, the most extensive and beneficial results. The rulers of a great nation, in the halls of legislation recognizing their high moral obligations and forming themselves into an association for the purpose of doing good by example and kind moral influence, to their country and the world, is indeed a noble, a sublime spectacle; and worthy of imitation by the rulers of all States and nations on the globe; and one which we trust will be speedily and extensively followed. On the 15th of March, a Society on the same plan, was formed at the State House by members of the Legislature of Massachusetts. His Excellency the Governor, is President; His Honor Lieutenant Governor, the speaker of the House of Representatives, and two distinguished laymen are Vice Presidents; and many of the legislature have already joined the Society. All persons, who are, or who have been members of the legislative, executive, or judicial branches of the government, and who practically adopt the principles of entire abstinence from the use of ardent spirit and from the traffic in it, may become members. It has already accomplished much good. Let similar societies be formed in the legislature of each State, and by friends of temperance throughout the land, and that foulest, deepest blot upon the human character, that most withering blight of human hopes, that mighty obstruction to the efficacy of the gospel, and to the intellectual elevation and moral purity of man will be no more.

The simultaneous meetings on the 26th of February were attended by great numbers and with intense interest, not only throughout the United States, but in London and various other places in Great Britain. Much valuable information was communicated, and a powerful impulse given to the cause.

At the meeting of the British and Foreign Temperance Society, John Wilks, Esq. member of parliament, said, "When they found that the number of criminals in the year amounted to 195,000, and that the number was perpetually increasing, notwithstanding the efforts of legislation, and that this increase of crime is attributable to intemperance and the use of ardent spirits, they must feel the absolute necessity of an effectual remedy. And what could be so efficient as the simple process recommended by this Society,persuasion and example.

"They were met that day, and it was delightful to think of it, purely because the great philanthropists of America, throughout the whole United States, were also met to offer their congratula

tions to each other, and acknowledge their obligations to their Divine Master. Hundreds of thousands were that day congregated from their most northern regions to their most southern parts, and we are assembled with them to thank God and take courage.

"To America, we looked with honest pride, and not there alone, but to Sweden, where we were told the monarch-a monarch who had led armies to and through the field; felt spirits unnecessary to give energy to the vigorous, or bravery to the brave, and had published his proclamation that his subjects should abstain from brandy, which had been to them as it had been to us, not an angel of mercy but of death. Go to the Cape of Good Hope; there the testimony of Dr. Phillip informs us that gin-shops no longer exist. A vast improvement was perceptible in the morals of the people, and the same results were obtained which we desire to see accomplished here. At the Sandwich Islands, we found that when some recent navigators proposed to give the natives hogsheads of ardent spirits, the king replied, No, we will not accept your present. Break your casks, and let their contents mingle with the green sea; or give them, if you please, to your hogs, but they shall not be drunk by real men.' Such a sentiment might become the Sovereign who sits on our own imperial throne, and let us hope that it may yet be heard in our own dominions. Give ardent spirits to the hogs, but they are not what ought to be bestowed, or received by enlightened or real men.' Such were the encouragements from every part of the world, and under such circumstances as these, he, for one, was glad that they had accepted the invitation of their American brethren, and had assembled with them to offer thanks for the past, and to resolve that their future attempts should correspond with the greatness of the evils and the importance of the cause. We felt no jealousy in reference to America; our language was the same; our origin the same; we sprung from the same parent; our love of liberty was the same; and our divine religion was the same. While, then, our Temperance Societies, and Bible Societies, and Missionary Societies existed, there was a bond of brotherhood between America and us, which no national prejudice, or political intrigue, could break."

The Hon. gentlemen concluded by proposing the following resolution: That this meeting view with feelings of lively interest the efforts made by American philanthropists, to correct the public opinion and practice with regard to the use of distilled spirits as a beverage."

"The Bishop of CHESTER seconded the motion. He thought the term philanthropists was well applied to the resolution. Those were the greatest philanthropists who attempted to remove the greatest evils, and to introduce the greatest benefits; but they became still greater philanthropists when they did this by means of the

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boldest measures in the face of the greatest opposition. indeed a bold idea, but, like other bold measures, entered upon with right views and principles, it had succeeded as a measure so introduced and supported would, having been introduced on right views and principles. Therefore he called those philanthropists who were pursuing this course; and he rejoiced with the honorable member who had just sat down, that England had received this benefit from America. It was indeed a gratifying thing for a parent to receive a present from a distant child. America was a grown-up child, it was true, but she was such a child as England would not forget, and he trusted she would not forget the stock from whence she sprung. She had returned a benefit which some twenty-five years ago she received from England: she then received the noblest institution which he thought the world had ever seen the British and Foreign Bible Society. That Society America borrowed from England, and now the latter borrows the Temperance Society from America. The Bible Society had taken deep root, and flourished there; so he trusted the Temperance Society would vegetate and prosper here, so that we might find the benefit we had received from America was not inferior to J that she had received from us. This was the true intercourse which ought to take place between nations. This was the real rivalry they should exercise, and thus promote good works; and he trusted those benefits would extend farther and farther, until they overspread the most distant nations. Sweden and Prussia had caught a flame which he hoped would soon spread to other countries, till stimulated by our example, it reached the farthest shores of Europe, Asia, and Africa."

P. Crampton, Esq., Solicitor-General for Ireland, said, "On all occasions he felt it his duty, as he did his pride, to bear his testimony, however humble, and raise his voice, however feeble, in support of Temperance Societies, the good and holy cause in which they were engaged. He did not think it necessary, on this occasion, to enter into details; he felt convinced himself, and he trusted it was the conviction of all present, that in proportion to the consumption of ardent spirits, was the amount of poverty, wretchedness, crime, madness, disease, and premature death; and to this he might add, would be found obstructions to the reception and promotion of evangelical truth. He was satisfied that every manufactory for spirits was a manufactory of poison; that every spirit store was a magazine of death; and that every person who was concerned in the trade of making, or buying, or selling spirits, was distributor of disease and death. It had been proved to a demonstration, that all the natural evils to which man was subject, were far exceeded by those produced by intemperance. It was the great instrument of sin and misery; the chief agent of the enemy of